The Astros beat the Phillies 8-2 in the first major league game played entirely on the AstroTurf artificial surface.

July 19, 1966:

The Astros beat the Phillies 8-2 in the first major league game played entirely on the AstroTurf artificial surface.

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Nov. 14, 1966:

Muhammad Ali defends his heavyweight boxing title, knocking out Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams in the third round of a scheduled 15-rounder. He returns in 1967 for a 15-round decision over Ernie Terrell and in 1970 for a 12th-round TKO of Jimmy Ellis.

Rookie Don Wilson no-hits the Braves, striking out 15 in a 2-0 victory.

June 18, 1967:

Rookie Don Wilson no-hits the Braves, striking out 15 in a 2-0 victory.

Photo: Walt Frerck, UPI

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Jan. 20, 1968:

In college basketball’s “Game of the Century” before 52,693, Elvin Hayes leads the University of Houston Cougars past defending national champion UCLA, led by Lew Alcindor, 71-69, paving the way for basketball to become a stadium sport.

Three years after Tulsa beat Houston in the Astrodome’s first college football game, the Cougars roll 100-6 in the most recent major-college game in which a team reached a hundred points. UH’s next-to-last TD is scored by future country music star Larry Gatlin.

Ken Forsch no-hits the Braves, 6-0, and retires 20 batters in a row between walks in the second and eighth innings.

April 7, 1979:

Ken Forsch no-hits the Braves, 6-0, and retires 20 batters in a row between walks in the second and eighth innings.

Photo: Steve Ueckert, Houston Chronicle

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Jan. 7. 1980:

After losing for a second year to the Steelers in the AFC title game, 60,000 people pack the Astrodome (another 20,000 are turned away) to hear coach Bum Phillips’ “kick in the door” speech. Alas, it proves to be the high-water mark of the Luv Ya Blue era.

The mother of all doubleheaders amid one of sport’s greatest playoff series: After the Phillies require 3:55 to beat the Astros, 5-3, in 10 innings in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, the Dome is switched to football configuration for the Houston-Texas A&M game, which begins at 11:33 p.m. and ends at 2:41 a.m. UH wins, 17-13. The Astros later lose Game 5 and the NLCS, also in extra innings.

Red Sox ace Roger Clemens is the MVP of the Astrodome’s second All-Star Game, a 3-2 American League victory.

July 15, 1986:

Red Sox ace Roger Clemens is the MVP of the Astrodome’s second All-Star Game, a 3-2 American League victory.

Photo: Steve Campbell, Houston Chronicle

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Sept. 23-25, 1986:

In one of the best three-game pitching stretches in baseball history, Jim Deshaies sets a record by striking out the first eight batters Sept. 23 against the Dodgers, Nolan Ryan allows one hit with 12 strikeouts through eight innings Sept. 24 against the Giants and Mike Scott no-hits the Giants on Sept. 25 to clinch the NL West title.

In a game voted by MLB Network as the fifth-best game of the last 50 years, the Mets rally to beat the Astros, 7-6, in 16 innings to win the National League Championship Series, four games to two. Billy Hatcher’s home run off the left field foul pole in the 14th inning keeps the Astros alive, but the Mets score three in the top of the 16th, and Jesse Orosco strikes out Kevin Bass with a man on in the bottom of the 16th to end the game.

Nolan Ryan becomes the second player in history, joining Cy Young, to win a hundred games for teams in each league, winning his 100th game for the Astros in a 6-3 victory over the Mets. The Astros’ sixth run comes on a bases-loaded walk to rookie Craig Biggio for his first career RBI.

Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz is the MVP of the 39th NBA All-Star Game. The West defeats the East, 143-134, before a record crowd of 44,735.

Feb. 12, 1989:

Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz is the MVP of the 39th NBA All-Star Game. The West defeats the East, 143-134, before a record crowd of 44,735.

Photo: John Makely, Houston Chronicle

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June 3-4, 1989:

The Astros beat the Dodgers, 5-4, on Rafael Ramirez’s RBI single in the 22nd inning, to wrap up a game that lasts seven hours and 14 minutes – the longest night game in MLB history. A day later, they win 7-6 in 13 innings.

The Astrodome hosts the Republican National Convention, which culminates in the nomination for a second term of President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle, who are defeated in the November election.

Astros righthander Darryl Kile no-hits the Mets, retiring the last 17 batters in a row in a 6-1 victory.

Sept. 8, 1993:

Astros righthander Darryl Kile no-hits the Mets, retiring the last 17 batters in a row in a 6-1 victory.

Photo: STEVE CAMPBELL, Houston Chronicle

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Jan. 2, 1994:

The Oilers close a 12-4 regular season with a 24-0 win over the Jets, but defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan takes a swing at offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride before halftime in a defining moment for “Team Turmoil.” Two weeks later, the season ends with a 28-20 loss to the Chiefs in the Oilers’ final playoff game in Houston.

The final Oilers game at the Astrodome, a 21-13 loss to the Bengals, draws a record-low crowd of 15,131.

Dec. 15, 1996:

The final Oilers game at the Astrodome, a 21-13 loss to the Bengals, draws a record-low crowd of 15,131.

Photo: SMILEY N. POOL, Houston Chronicle

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Sept. 25, 1997:

The Astros clinch their first playoff berth since 1986 with a 9-1 win over the Cubs.

Sept. 25, 1997:

The Astros clinch their first playoff berth since 1986 with a 9-1 win over the Cubs.

Photo: SMILEY N. POOL, Houston Chronicle

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Dec. 13-20, 1997:

Katy, Texas City, Sealy and La Marque all win football division titles on back-to-back weekends at the Astrodome, completing the most successful season for Houston teams in high school history.

Dec. 13-20, 1997:

Katy, Texas City, Sealy and La Marque all win football division titles on back-to-back weekends at the Astrodome, completing the most successful season for Houston teams in high school history.

Photo: Howard Castleberry, Houston Chronicle

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Aug. 7, 1998: Randy Johnson, a late-season trade acquisition from the Mariners, debuts with a five-hit shutout before 52,071 fans in a 9-0 win over the Phillies, the first of three consecutive home shutouts for the Big Unit. less

Aug. 7, 1998: Randy Johnson, a late-season trade acquisition from the Mariners, debuts with a five-hit shutout before 52,071 fans in a 9-0 win over the Phillies, the first of three consecutive home shutouts for ... more

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Oct. 3, 1999:

The Astros win their final regular-season game at the Astrodome, 9-4 over the Dodgers, to clinch the National League Central Division title.

Oct. 3, 1999:

The Astros win their final regular-season game at the Astrodome, 9-4 over the Dodgers, to clinch the National League Central Division title.

Photo: Richard Carson, Houston Chronicle

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Oct. 9, 1999:

In the final Astros game at the Astrodome, the Atlanta Braves win 7-5 to wrap up the best-of-five National League Division Series, three games to one.

Oct. 9, 1999:

In the final Astros game at the Astrodome, the Atlanta Braves win 7-5 to wrap up the best-of-five National League Division Series, three games to one.